Spain’s digital nomad visa is built for one specific situation: you earn your income remotely, from a company or clients outside Spain, and you want to live in Spain while you do it. It’s one of the more accessible routes for non-EU citizens, but “accessible” doesn’t mean automatic — the file still has to be built correctly.
Who actually qualifies
The visa is for two groups: employees working remotely for a non-Spanish company, and freelancers whose clients are mostly outside Spain. If most of your income comes from Spanish clients, this isn’t your route — a different permit applies.
You’ll also need to show your employment or freelance relationship existed before you apply, not something set up the week before.
The income question
There’s a minimum monthly income requirement, and it scales up if you’re bringing a spouse or children. The exact figure is tied to the Spanish minimum wage and gets updated, so we always confirm the current number before telling a client what they need — quoting last year’s figure is a common way applications get miscalculated.
Savings can sometimes support a borderline income case, but they don’t replace the income requirement outright.
What the file actually contains
Beyond the income proof, the file typically includes: a clean criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated), proof of the remote work relationship, health insurance valid in Spain, proof of qualification or relevant experience, and, if applicable, your company’s registration if you’re a freelancer.
Every document that isn’t already in Spanish needs an official translation, and documents from outside the EU usually need an apostille. This is where files most often get delayed — not because the visa is hard to qualify for, but because a document was missing, outdated, or in the wrong format when it was submitted.
How long it takes
Once a complete file is submitted, processing has historically taken a matter of weeks rather than months for this particular visa — but timelines depend on the consulate or the in-country unit handling your case, and on how busy they are. We give clients a current estimate rather than a fixed promise, because the honest answer changes with the season.
What we actually do
We don’t just tell you the requirements — we check your income and work situation before you apply, so you’re not filing a case that gets rejected on a technicality. We prepare the document list specific to your situation, coordinate the translations and apostilles, and manage the file until your residence card appointment.
If you’re not sure this is your route, our free pre-assessment takes a few minutes and tells you which Spanish residence permit actually fits your situation.
This page gives general orientation. The right route and the exact requirements are confirmed only after reviewing your file.